ZEC Electoral Reforms Propose Diaspora, Prison Vote

WASHINGTON DC —
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is proposing new electoral processes that will allow Zimbabweans living in the diaspora to register to vote in future elections.

This came out at a two-day voter registration stakeholders conference that ended in Harare on Tuesday that was attended by political parties, churches, civil society, local authorities and others from neighbouring countries.

ZEC unveiled a voters’ roll model proposing that prisoners and patients in hospitals be allowed to vote while voting will be polling station-based.

This proposal comes at a time when there is a bill in parliament seeking to amend the electoral laws barring those in the diaspora from voting.

Election Resource Centre director Tawanda Chimhini said the conference was a success as it gave stakeholders the opportunity to hear what ZEC is doing.

But Chimhini said there still remains many unanswered questions such as what will happen to the old voters' roll and how the proposed changes affect the Electoral Ammendment Bill currently in parliament.

The two-day conference was organised by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.